Apparatus for aligning the pins on aligner chains of an envelope machine

ABSTRACT

Envelope blank timing and aligning apparatus includes a support table for the envelope blanks with a pair of spaced parallel endless chains. The chains are positioned slightly below the upper surface of the table with pin members extending upwardly therefrom. The pin members engage edge portions of the envelope blank and convey the envelope blank along the table in timed and aligned relation for feeding into the other envelope-forming elements of the machine. A drive for the chains includes a drive shaft connected to a drive gear. A drive sprocket for one of the chains is secured to the drive shaft for rotation therewith. A tubular drive shaft is coaxially positioned on the drive shaft and has a drive sprocket for the other chain secured thereto for rotation therewith. A transmission drive is provided to connect the tubular shaft to the drive shaft and to adjust the phase angle of the tubular shaft relative to the drive shaft and thereby adjust or change the position of the pins on the respective chains relative to each other. The transmission drive includes an idler shaft and meshing spur gears connecting the drive shaft and the idler shaft. Also included in the transmission is a pair of meshing helical gears connecting the idler shaft and the tubular shaft. Axial movement of the idler shaft relative to the drive shaft and tubular shaft moves the gears on the idler shaft relative to the gears on the drive and tubular shaft to rotate one shaft relative to the other and change the phase angle between the drive shaft and the tubular shaft. The adjustment of the phase angle between the respective shafts may be accomplished while the shafts are rotating to thereby adjust the relative position of the aligner pins while the envelope machine is running.

United States Patent Helm [ Mar. 7, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING THE PINS ON ALIGNER CHAINS OF AN ENVELOPE MACHINE Herbert W. Helm, Hollidaysburg, Pa.

F. L. Smithe Machine Company, Inc., Duncanville, Pa.

22 Filed: Aug. 17, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 64,181

[72] lnventor:

[73] Assignee:

[52] U.S. Cl ..93/62, 271/50 [51] Int. Cl ..B31b 21/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..93/62,58.2,6l;271/50, 46

Primary Examiner-Bernard Stickney Attorney-Stanley J. Price, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Envelope blank timing and aligning apparatus includes a support table for the envelope blanks with a pair of spaced parallel endless chains. The chains are positioned slightly below the upper surface of the table with pin members extending upwardly therefrom. The pin members engage edge portions of the envelope blank and convey the envelope blank along the table in timed and aligned relation for feeding into the other envelope-forming elements of the machine. A drive for the chains includes a drive shaft connected to a drive gear. A drive sprocket for one of the chains is secured to the drive shaft for rotation therewith. A tubular drive shaft is coaxially positioned on the drive shaft and has a drive sprocket for the other chain secured thereto for rotation therewith. A transmission drive is provided to connect the tubular shaft to the drive shaft and to adjust the phase angle of the tubular shaft relative to the drive shaft and thereby adjust or change the position of the pins on the respective chains relative to each other. The transmission drive includes an idler shaft and meshing spur gears connecting the drive shaft and the idler shaft. Also included in the transmission is a pair of meshing helical gears connecting the idler shaft and the tubular shaft. Axial movement of the idler shaft relative to the drive shaft and tubular shaft moves the gears on the idler shaft relative to the gears on the drive and tubular shaft to rotate one shaft relative to the other and change the phase angle between the drive shaft and the tubular shaft. The adjustment of the phase angle between the respective shafts may be accomplished while the shafts are rotating to thereby adjust the relative position of the aligner pins while the envelope machine is running.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR 7 I972 HERBERT w Him 1 APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING THE PINS ON ALIGNER CHAINS OF AN ENVELOPE MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for adjusting the phase angle between a pair of rotating concentric shafts and more particularly to apparatus for aligning the pins on separate aligner chains in an envelope machine while the envelope machine is running.

2. Description of the Prior Art In envelope-making machines the envelope blanks are ar ranged as a band in overlapped relation for applying adhesive to the seal flap portion of the blanks. The band of overlapped blanks is conveyed from the adhesive-applying device through a drier where the seal gum adhesive is dried. The stream of overlapped blanks is then conveyed to an aligner section where pullout rolls separate the blanks and deposit the separate blanks successively on a support table. A conveyor mechanism such as a pair of endless chains with outwardly extending pins conveys the separate blanks to envelope-forming components of the envelope machine. US. Pat. Nos. 2,077,952 and 2,101,268 disclose endless chain-type conveyors with aligning pins extending outwardly therefrom.

it is essential that the envelope blanks be properly aligned on the support table and conveyed in this aligned position to the envelope-forming components of the machine. For example, the envelope blanks must be delivered in timed relation to the bottom flap and seal flap scorers and the side seal scorers so that the score lines are properly formed on the envelope blanks at the desired location. It is also essential that the envelope blanks be delivered in aligned relation to the bottom flaps and seal flap scorers so that the score lines are formed in the blank at the proper location. The aligning of the envelope blanks is accomplished by the pairs of upwardly extending pins on spaced conveyor chains. The pins engage the envelope blanks at the junction of the side flaps and the seal flap. When the pins of both chains are properly aligned transversely across the table they properly align the envelope blanks as the blanks are conveyed along the table. Where the pins are not properly aligned with each other, the misaligned pins skew the blank so that the subsequent score lines are formed on the blank at wrong locations. Frequently the pins become misaligned and it is necessary to align the pins relative to each other. The aligning of the pins is a tedious, time-consuming operation in that the envelope machine must be stopped and the drive means disconnected so that one of the sprockets may be moved on the drive shaft relative to the other sprocket. After the pins are aligned, the machine can be started only after this sprocket drive means is again connected. There is a need for apparatus to adjust pin alignment while the envelope machine is running and also provide a fine adjustment of pin alignment while envelopes are being processed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The hereinafter-described invention is directed to a conveyor means for conveying envelope blanks that includes a table for supporting the blanks. A pair of endless chains are arranged in spaced substantially parallel relation to each other and longitudinally on the table. Pin members extend outwardly from the chain members and engage spaced edge portions of the envelope blanks and convey the envelope blanks longitudinally on the table. The drive sprockets for the endless chains are rotatably mounted on the table with the chains reeved therearound for propelling the pins longitudinally along the surface of the table. The drive sprockets are secured to separate drive shafts for rotation therewith on a common axis. Adjusting means is provided to change the phase angle of the sprockets relative to each other while the shafts are rotating by rotating one of the shafts relative to the other shaft to thereby adjust the position of the pins on the chains transversely on the table and adjust the transverse alignment of the envelope blanks while the envelope blanks are being conveyed on the table.

It is now possible with the above apparatus to adjust the pins relative to each other while the envelope machine is running and envelope blanks are being conveyed along the aligner section. The apparatus for adjusting the pins relative to each other includes a pair of separate concentric drive shafts for the sprockets of the conveyor chains. The drive shafts are connected to each other through a transmission that includes an idler shaft with a spur gear and a helical gear nonrotatably secured thereto. One of the drive shafts has a spur gear secured thereto and in meshing relation with the spur gear on the idler shaft. The other drive shaft has a helical gear in meshing relation with the helical gear on the idler shaft. Drive is transmitted from one of the drive shafts through the transmission and idler shaft to the other drive shaft. When it is desired to adjust the alignment of the pins, the idler shaft is moved axially to move one helical gear relative to the other helical gear while the helical gears remain in mesh. This axial movement of the idler shaft changes the phase angle of the concentric drive shafts to thereby change the relative transverse position of the pin members to each other.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide apparatus for adjusting the aligner pins while the envelope machine is running and the aligner chains are conveying envelope blanks.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for changing the phase angle of a pair of concentric shafts while both of the shafts are rotating.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more completely disclosed and described in the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic view in elevation of the aligner section of an envelope machine.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the aligner table with the aligner pin-adjusting apparatus illustrated partially in section.

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the spur and helical gears in the transmission illustrating the relative rotation of the shafts connected to the helical gears upon axial movement of one helical gear relative to the other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated an aligner section of an envelope machine that is generally designated by the numeral 10. The aligner section includes a table 12 positioned between a pair of pullout rolls l4 and 16 and the seal flap scorer mechanism 18 and the bottom flap scorer mechanism 20.

A pair of endless chains 22 and 24 are reeved about drive sprockets 26 and 28 at one end of the table 12 and about idler sprockets 39 and 32 adjacent the other end of the table 12. The idler sprockets 30 and 32 are spaced a slightly greater distance from each other than the drive sprockets 26 and 28 so that the chains converge toward each other in the direction of travel to align the sides of the blank. Throughout the specification, the chains will be referred to as substantially parallel. It should be understood that the chains may be either parallel or converge slightly in the direction of travel. Each of the chains 22 and 24 has a plurality of outwardly extending pins 34 that are arranged to engage the envelope blank 36 at the junction of the edges of the side flap 38 or 40 and the seal flap 42 (FIG. 2). The pins 34 convey the envelope blank 36 longitudinally along the table 12 to the seal flap scorer mechanism 18. The chains 22 and 24 are driven in timed relation with the elements of the envelope-forming devices such as the seal flap scorer l8 and the bottom flap scorer 20 so that the scoring operations are performed at the desired location on the envelope blank 36. The pin members 34 on the respective chains 22 and 24 are arranged to be transversely aligned on the table 12 to align the envelope blank 36 so that it is introduced into the scorers l8 and 20 in a preselected position so that the transverse scores for the seal flap 42 and the bottom flap 44 are properly formed at the desired location on the blanks 36. The desired location for the seal flap line is illustrated in dotted lines on the blank 36 and designated by the numeral 46. it should be understood, however, the seal flap score line is impressed on the blank 36 after it is conveyed along the aligner table 12 and introduced into the seal flap scorer mechanism 18.

Now referring to FIG. 2 the table 12 includes a plurality of parallel blank-supporting elements 48 that are suitably supported from the aligner table side frames 50. Apparatus, not illustrated, is provided to move the chain members and other elements of the aligner laterally so that different sized envelope blanks may be processed in the same envelope machine. An idler shaft 54 is supported in the aligner side frames 50 and 52 and has idler sprockets 30 and 32 rotatably mounted thereon. At the other end of the aligner table 12 there is a drive shaft 56 rotatably supported in both of the side frames 50 and 52. On the drive side of the envelope machine a drive gear 58 is secured to the drive shaft 56 and is connected to the drive train of the envelope machine to rotate the gear 58 and shaft 56 in timed relation with the other components of the envelope machine. The drive shaft 56 has the drive sprocket 26 secured thereto for rotation therewith so that chain 22 is driven by drive shaft 56 through the drive sprocket 26.

A tubular drive shaft 60 is concentrically positioned on the drive shaft 56 and is rotatable relative thereto. The drive sprocket 28 is secured to the tubular shaft 60 for rotation so that the chain 24 is driven by the tubular shaft 60 through the drive sprocket 28. With this arrangement a separate drive train is provided for the respective chains 22 and 24.

The tubular shaft 60 is connected to the shaft 56 through a transmission device generally designated by the numeral 62. The transmission 62 includes a stub or idler shaft 64 that is illustrated in parallel relation with the drive shaft 56 and in substantially the same horizontal plane. The idler shaft 64 and the portion of the transmission 62 associated therewith has been projected to this position from a position beneath the drive shaft 56 and in the same vertical plane with drive shaft 56 to more clearly illustrate the invention. It should be understood the relative position of the idler shaft to the drive shafts is not critical and the idler shaft may be positioned in other locations without departing from the invention.

The transmission 62 has a housing portion 66 secured at one end to the inner wall of side frame 52 by screw 68 and has a cylindrical passageway 70 therein. A slidable sleeve 72 is positioned in the passageway 70 and nonrotatably secured to the housing 66 by a pin member 74. With this arrangement, the sleeve 72 is movable only axially in the passageway 70. The end 76 of shaft 64 extends into the passageway 70 and has a ball bearing 78 between the inner wall of the sleeve and the outer wall of the shaft 64. Suitable snaprings maintain the bearing 78 within the sleeve 72 and the shaft end portion 76 within the bearing 78 so that the sleeve, bearing and shaft move as a unit.

Nonrotatably positioned on the idler shaft 64 is a double gear generally designated by the numeral 80 that includes a helical gear portion 82 and a spur gear portion 84. The double gear 80 is constructed of two separate gears 82 and 84 secured to each other by suitable pin means. The idler shaft 64 has a shoulder portion against which one side of the double gear 80 abuts and a snapring secured in an annular groove on the shaft 64 fixedly positions the gears on the idler shaft 64 for axial movement therewith. The other end 86 of idler shaft 64 is mounted in a slidable sleeve 88 with ball bearings 90. Suitable snaprings secure the shaft end portion 86 and ball bearings 90 within the sleeve member 88 for axial unitary movement. The sleeve member 88 is slidably mounted in a passageway 92 in the side frame 52 and has an internally threaded end portion 94. A cup-shaped housing 96 is positioned over the passageway 92 in frame member 52 and has a threaded axial shaft 98 extending through an opening 100 in the cup-shaped member 96 into the threaded portion 94 of the slidable sleeve 88. A handle 102 is secured to the other end of the threaded adjusting shaft 98 so that rotation of the handle 102 rotates the threaded portion of the adjusting shaft 98. The shaft 98 is suitably mounted in the cup-shaped member 96 so that the shaft remains axially fixed while it is rotated therein. Rotation of the adjusting shaft 98 through the threaded connection previously discussed moves the idler shaft 64 axially within the passageways 70 and 92.

The drive shaft 56 has a spur gear 104 secured thereto for rotation therewith. The spur gear 104 meshes with the spur gear 84 on idler shaft 64. The tubular shaft 60 has a helical gear 106 secured thereto for rotation therewith. The helical gear 106 on tubular shaft 60 meshes with the helical gear 82 on idler shaft 64. With this arrangement, the drive for the chains 22 and 24 is transmitted from gear 58 through drive shaft 56 to directly drive sprocket 26 and chain 22. The shaft 56 also through the meshing spur gears 104 and 84, drives the idler shaft 64 at a preselected speed. The tubular shaft 60 and sprocket 28 are driven by shaft 56 through the meshing spur gears and the meshing helical gears 82 and 106. Thus, the chain 24 and sprocket 28 on tubular shaft 60 are driven at a preselected speed through the transmission mechanism 62.

To adjust the relative phase angle of the tubular shaft 60 and the concentric drive shaft 56, the idler shaft 64 is moved axially by rotating the adjusting shaft 98 to thereby move the helical gear 82 on the adjusting shaft 64 relative to the helical gear 106 on the tubular shaft 60. The helical gear 106 on tubular shaft 60 has a relatively wide face whereas the helical gear 82 mounted on the adjusting shaft 64 has a relatively narrow face. A helical tooth formed in the relatively wide face of gear 106 is illustrated in FIG. 3 and designated by the numeral 108, and a tooth of the spur gear 104 is illustrated in FIG. 3 and designated by the numeral 110. It will be apparent from FIG. 3 when the helical gear is positioned on and meshes with the helical gear 106 adjacent the outer face 112 there will be a predetermined phase angle between the tubular shaft 60 and the inner concentric drive shaft 56. When the helical gear 80, while remaining in meshing relation, is moved toward the inner face 114 of helical gear 106, there will be relative rotation of the tubular shaft 60 to the concentric drive shaft 56 to change the phase angle between the tubular shaft 60 and drive shaft 56 and thus advance or retract the pin members 34 on one of the chains 22 relative to the corresponding pin 34 on the other chain.

Thus, to advance the pin 34 on chain 24 relative to the corresponding pin 34 on the chain 22, the helical gear 80 is moved axially away from the inner face 114 of helical gear 106. This movement rotates the gear 106 and tubular shaft 60 relative to drive shaft 56 and thus advances the pin 34 on the chain 24 relative to the corresponding pin 34 on chain 22. The above-discussed adjustment between the pins 34 on the chains 22 and 24 may be accomplished while the envelope machine is running and while the blanks are being conveyed across the aligner table 12 by the chains 22 and 24. The adjustment of the aligner pins 34 is accomplished by the axial movement of the idler shaft 64 relative to the drive shaft 56 and tubular shaft 60 positioned by rotation of handle 102.

Although the above pin-aligner device has been described with a table-type aligner device, it should be understood that the adjusting apparatus may be used with a rotary aligner similar to that illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,379,432 and 3,427,017. For example, the aligner pins in the rotary aligner could be adjusted relative to each other by means of apparatus similar to the transmission 62.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have explained the principle, preferred construction and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what 1 now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. in an envelope machine a conveyor means for conveying envelope blanks comprising,

a table for supporting said envelope blanks,

a pair of endless chains arranged in spaced relation to each other and longitudinally on said table,

pin members extending outwardly from said chain members for engaging spaced edge portions of said envelope blanks and conveying said envelope blanks longitudinally on said table,

a pair of drive sprockets rotatably mounted on said table with said chains reeved therearound for propelling said pins longitudinally along the surface of said table,

said drive sprockets each secured to a separate drive shaft for rotation therewith on a common axis, and

adjusting means to change the phase angle of said sprockets relative to each other while said shafts are rotating by rotating one of said shafts relative to the other of said shafts and thereby adjust the position of said pins on said chains transversely on said table and thereby adjust the transverse alignment of said envelope blanks while the envelope blanks are being conveyed on said table.

2. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said adjusting means includes,

an idler shaft,

means for rotating said idler shaft in timed relation with one of said drive shafts,

a first helical gear secured to said other drive shaft and a second helical gear secured to said idler shaft and meshing with said first helical gear, and

means for moving one of said meshing helical gears axially relative to said other helical gear to thereby rotate said other drive shaft and change the phase angle between said shaft and drive sprockets.

3. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 1 in which,

one of said drive shafts is a tubular shaft with said other drive shaft extending therethrough,

one of said drive sprockets is secured to said tubular drive shaft and the other of said drive sprockets is secured to said other drive shaft, and

transmission means connecting said shafts to each other for timed rotation of both of said shafts.

4. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 3 in which said transmission means includes,

an idler shaft,

a first spur gear secured to one of said drive shafts for rota tion therewith, a second spur gear secured to said idler shaft and meshing with said first spur gear,

a first helical gear secured to the other of said drive shafts for rotation therewith,

a second helical gear secured to said idler shaft and meshing with said first helical gear, and

means to move one of said helical gears axially relative to said other helical gear to thereby change the phase angle between said drive shafts and move one of said drive chains longitudinally relative to said other drive chain.

5. An envelope machine as set forth in claim 4 in which,

said second spur gear and said second helical gear are secured to said idler shaft and movable axially therewith, and

means to move said idler shaft axially relative to said drive shafts to thereby rotate one of said drive shafts relative to the other of said drive shafts.

6. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 4 in which,

said first helical gear is secured to said tubular shaft, and

said first spur gear is secured to said other drive shaft.

7. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 4 in which,

said other drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the side frame members of said table and extends transversely thereacross,

a drive gear is secured to one end of said drive shaft and the other end of said drive shaft extends through said tubular drive shaft and has said first spur gear secured to said other end.

8. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 6 in which,

said idler shaft is rotatably mounted in a support means mounted on said table, means to move said idler shaft axially in said support means to change the phase angle of said shafts relative to each other while said machine is running. 9. in an envelope machine as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

a pair of pullout rolls positioned adjacent to one end of said table. 10. in an envelope machine as set forth in claim 9 which includes,

a seal flap scorer device and bottom flap scorer device positioned adjacent to the other end of said table. 

1. In an envelope machine a conveyor means for conveying envelope blanks comprising, a table for supporting said envelope blanks, a pair of endless chains arranged in spaced relation to each other and longitudinally on said table, pin members extending outwardly from said chain members for engaging spaced edge portions of said envelope blanks and conveying said envelope blanks longitudinally on said table, a pair of drive sprockets rotatably mounted on said table with said chains reeved therearound for propelling said pins longitudinally along the surface of said table, said drive sprockets each secured to a separate drive shaft for rotation therewith on a common axis, and adjusting means to change the phase angle of said sprockets relative to each other while said shafts are rotating by rotating one of said shafts relative to the other of said shafts and thereby adjust the position of said pins on said chains transversely on said table and thereby adjust the transverse alignment of said envelope blanks while the envelope blanks are being conveyed on said table.
 2. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said adjusting means includes, an idler shaft, means for rotating said idler shaft in timed relation with one of said drive shafts, a first helical gear secured to said other drive shaft and a second helical gear secured to said idler shaft and meshing with said first helical gear, and means for moving one of said meshing helical gears axially relative to said other helical gear to thereby rotate said other drive shaft and change the phase angle between said shaft and drive sprockets.
 3. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 1 in which, one of said drive shafts is a tubular shaft with said other drive shaft extending therethrough, one of said drive sprockets is secured to said tubular drive shaft and the other of said drive sprockets is secured to said other drive shaft, and transmission means connecting said shafts to each other for timed rotation of both of said shafts.
 4. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 3 in which said transmission means includes, an idler shaft, a first spur gear secured to one of said drive shafts for rotation therewith, a second spur gear secured to said idler shaft and meshing with said first spur gear, a first helical gear secured to the other of said drive shafts for rotation therewith, a second helical gear secured to said idler shaft and meshing with said first helical gear, and means to move one of said helical gears axially relative to said other helical gear to thereby change the phase angle between said drive shafts and move one of said drive chains longitudinally relative to said other drive chain.
 5. An envelope machine as set forth in claim 4 in which, said second spur gear and said second helical gear are secured to said idler shaft and movable axially therewith, and means to move said idler shaft axially relative to said drive shafts to thereby rotate one of said drive shafts relative to the other of said drive shafts.
 6. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 4 in which, said first helical gear is secured to said tubular shaft, and said first spur gear is secured to said other drive shaft.
 7. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 4 in which, said other drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the side frame members of said table and extends transversely thereacross, a drive gear is secured to one end of said drive shaft and the other end of said drive shaft extends through said tubular drive shaft and has said first spur gear secured to said other end.
 8. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 6 in which, said idler shaft is rotatably mounted in a support means mounted on said table, means to move said idler shaft axially in said support means to change the phase angle of said shafts relative to each other while said machine is running.
 9. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 1 which includes, a pair of pullout rolls positioned adjacent to one end of said table.
 10. In an envelope machine as set forth in claim 9 which includes, a seal flap scorer device and bottom flap scorer device positioned adjacent to the other end of said table. 